1967/68: The city of Denver, which last had hosted professional basketball in 1950 when the
Nuggets folded in the early days on the NBA, was selected to receiver a charter
franchise in the upstart American Basketball Association after a deal with Kansas
City fell through. Seeking solid ownership the ABA selected Bill Ringsby,
the owner of the Denver-based "Ringsby Rocket" Trucking Systems to own the team.
It was only natural that the team be named Rockets. On October 15th the Rockets
took the floor for the first time beating the Anaheim Amigos 114-105. The Rockets
would go on to finish in third place with a record of 45-33. In the playoff
the Rockets would go on to lose to the New Orleans Buccaneers in five games
with the home team winning all five games.1968/69: The Rockets continued to be a playoff contender with a record of 44-34 finishing
in third place for the second year in a row. In the playoffs the Rockets would
give the Oakland Oaks all they can have alternating wins before falling in seven
games to the eventual ABA Champions.
1969/70: The Rockets felt the ire of the NCAA, NBA, as well as other ABA owners when they
signed University of Detroit Sophomore star Spencer Heywood. Claiming hardship
Heywood was the first underclassman to jump college early for the pros. Heywood
was a dominant force, winning the Rookie of the Year, and MVP, while leading the
league in scoring and rebounding as the Rockets overcame a 9-19 start to win
the Western Division with a record of 51-33. In the playoffs the Rockets would
be pushed to the limit by the Washington Caps, who had beaten them a season earlier
in a seven game series as the Oakland Oaks. In Game 7 in the Mile High city
the Rockets would explode winning 143-119 to reach the Division Finals. However,
in the divisional finals the Rockets would fall in five games to the Los Angeles
Stars losing four straight games, after taking Game 1.
1970/71: After winning their first division Title the Rockets expected to be even stronger.
However, after two preseason games Spencer Heywood left the Rockets over a contract
dispute to sign with Seattle Supersonics. The Rockets and Heywood would
embark on a legal battle, but in the end the Rockets would lose and Heywood would
go on to a solid NBA career. While holding out hope Heywood return the Rockets
struggled posting a 30-54 record. Despite their poor mark the Rockets finished
tied for fourth place and had a chance to play themselves into the playoffs.
However the Rockets would fall to the Texas Chaparrals 115-109 in a one game playoff.
1971/72: The Rockets would make a return to the playoffs despite a poor record of 34-50, under
Hall of Fame Coach Alex Hannum. In the playoffs the Rockets would give the
Indiana Pacers all they could handle pushing the eventual champions to seven games
before they lost by two points in the series finale in Indiana.
1972/73: With Warren Jabali who the Rockets acquired in the Miami Floridians dispersal draft
the Rockets became a tougher team posting a solid record of 47-37 while finishing
in third place. However, in the playoffs the Rockets would run out of fuel
falling to the Indiana Pacers in five games.
1973/74: The Rockets would undergo an ownership change as Bill Ringsby sold the team to A.G.
"Bud" Fischer and Frank M. Goldberg. On the court the Rockets had essentially
the same team but struggled all season finishing with a disappointing 37-47 record.
Needing to win a play in game to reach the playoff the Rockets would fall
to the San Diego Conquistadors by 20 points.
1974/75: In the off season the ABA in franchise would undergo a complete renovation top to
bottom as their name was changed to Nuggets paying homage to Denver's first pro
team while placing in position to join the NBA by avoiding confusion with the
NBA's Houston Rockets. On the court changes were radical too as the Nuggets hired
Carl Scheer from the recently folded Carolina Cougars. Scheer would bring half
the Cougars with him including Coach Larry Brown. The move would revitalize
the franchise right away as the Nuggets finished in first place with an ABA best
65-19 record. In the playoffs the Nuggets would fly past the Utah Stars in six
games to reach the Western Finals. However, in the semifinals the Nuggets would
be stunned by the Indiana Pacers in seven games.
1975/76: As the season began the Nuggets had a brand new arena and an uncertain future as
the ABA was on its last legs with the league down to sevem teams after two teams
folded early in the season. Mc Nichols Arena would host that year's All-Star
Game since the league was down to seven teams the Nuggets would take on All-Stars
form the other six teams. To add spice to the games festivities the Nuggets
decided to hold a dunk off between star rookie David Thompson and New York Nets
star Julius Erving. Dr J would steal the show but the Nuggets won the game. The
Nuggets would go on to finish in first place with a record of 60-24. In the playoffs
the Nuggets would need seven games to get past the Kentucky Colonels and
into the ABA Finals. In the Finals Julius Erving would again steal the show as
the Nuggets fell to the New York Nets in what would turn out to be the last ABA
Championship Series. The ABA would cease operations shortly after the game,
but the Nuggets would be among four teams joining the Nets, Indiana Pacers, and
San Antonio Spurs to join the NBA.